SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (November 7, 2026) – The Western New England men's ice hockey team returned to home ice on Saturday afternoon, hosting Salve Regina University in conference action. Despite a 47-save performance from Nikita Volsky and a scoreless opening period, the Golden Bears fell to the Seahawks, 2-0. Salve Regina scored twice in the second period, including a power-play goal from Jack Arizo and an even-strength tally from Max Wennerberg, to secure the victory.

Records:

Western New England: 0-3-1 (0-2-0)

Salve Regina University: 4-0-0 (2-0-0)

How It Happened:

First Period:

• The Seahawks tested Western New England early, recording a shot on goal just 34 seconds into the contest. A hooking penalty at 1:05 gave Salve Regina the game's first power play, but Volsky turned aside the lone shot on goal during the opportunity to keep the game scoreless.

• The Golden Bears responded with offensive pressure, beginning with shots from Pierce Gouin and Lagoutte before Michael Bottrell, Jett Carroll, Landon Werner, and Gavin Mastrodonato all tested Salve Regina goaltender Kai Weigel. The Seahawks netminder kept Western New England off the scoreboard.

• At 10:20, Western New England earned its first power play following a tripping penalty. Andrew LaHaie, Mathew Fortin, and Bottrell each recorded shots on goal during the two-minute advantage, but Weigel stopped all three attempts.

• Salve Regina received another power-play opportunity at 14:43 following an interference penalty against Werner. Volsky made three saves during the penalty kill, helping WNE maintain the scoreless tie.

• The Golden Bears successfully killed off both completed penalties in the opening period, but Salve Regina earned another man advantage with four seconds remaining. The first period concluded tied 0-0, with Volsky recording 17 saves and Western New England putting 14 shots on goal.

Second Period:

• Salve Regina began the middle period with the remaining time on its power play and broke the scoreless tie at 1:48. Jack Arizo scored the game's opening goal, assisted by Kiernan Poulin and Will Doherty, giving the Seahawks a 1-0 advantage.

• Western New England looked to answer with shots from Liam Waugh and Jaden Sturge before another penalty gave Salve Regina a power play at 3:27. Volsky stopped all three shots on goal during the opportunity, keeping the Golden Bears within one.

• The Golden Bears earned their second power play at 5:55 following a holding penalty. LaHaie and Mastrodonato each registered a shot on goal, but Weigel denied both attempts as Salve Regina maintained its one-goal lead.

• At 8:36, the Seahawks doubled their advantage when Max Wennerberg scored an even-strength goal, assisted by Sean Leetch and Roger Davis, extending the lead to 2-0.

• Western New England continued searching for an answer, with Bottrell, Carroll, and Fortin recording shots on goal throughout the remainder of the period. Volsky added 18 saves in the second, bringing his total to 35 through 40 minutes, as Salve Regina carried a 2-0 lead into the final period. The Seahawks outshot WNE 20-7 in the frame.

Third Period:

• Facing a two-goal deficit, the Golden Bears opened the final period with offensive attempts from Nolan Ring, Carroll, Bottrell, Fortin, and Mastrodonato. Weigel turned aside the shots that reached the net to preserve Salve Regina's advantage.

• A tripping penalty against Beau Helmeczi at 4:32 sent the Seahawks to the power play. Volsky stopped the lone shot on goal during the opportunity, while Western New England successfully killed off the penalty to keep the deficit at two.

• The Golden Bears continued generating attempts as Lagoutte, Sturge, and Bottrell tested Weigel during the middle stages of the period. Carroll added another shot on goal at 15:38, but the Seahawks maintained their shutout.

• Western New England faced another penalty kill beginning at 17:39 following a tripping call against Kai Skilbeck. Ring recorded a short-handed shot on goal at 18:46, while Volsky made two saves during the advantage. A subsequent delay-of-game penalty against Volsky at 19:18 gave Salve Regina an additional man advantage.

• The Golden Bears held Salve Regina scoreless throughout the final period, with Volsky making 12 more saves. Western New England recorded eight shots on goal in the third, but Weigel completed the 29-save shutout as the Seahawks secured the 2-0 victory.

Inside the Crease:

• Nikita Volsky finished the afternoon with 47 saves on 49 shots, recording a .959 save percentage.

• Michael Bottrell led Western New England with six shots on goal, while Jett Carroll followed with four.

• Andrew LaHaie and Gavin Mastrodonato each recorded three shots on goal for the Golden Bears.

• Western New England finished with 29 shots on goal compared to 49 for Salve Regina. The Golden Bears held a 14-17 disadvantage in the first period, were outshot 20-7 in the second, and finished the third with eight shots compared to 12 for the Seahawks.

• The Golden Bears won 38 of the game's 75 faceoffs, led by Nick Frederick, who won 10 of his 15 opportunities.

• Western New England went 0-for-2 on the power play while holding Salve Regina to one goal on seven opportunities.

• The Golden Bears recorded 16 blocked shots, with Bottrell, Mastrodonato, and Skilbeck each contributing two.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• Western New England will return to the road on Friday, November 13, taking on Suffolk University at 5:00 PM inside Porrazzo Memorial Skating Rink in East Boston, Mass.